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Birthday book

My lovelies, I wanted to share my dad's 60th birthday present (just because I'm so excited about it). I made him a hardcover photo book filled with snapshots from all stages of his life. It was so much fun looking through family shots and choosing favorites, including a few he had never seen! (How hilarious is his expression in his wedding photo, by the way?) When I gave it to him this past weekend, he was so touched and couldn't stop looking through it. It was one of those truly special life moments.

(P.S. I made the book through Pinhole Press, and the book felt beautiful, with silky paper and a linen cloth hardcover. This book is the exact one I choose, but there are a bunch of other lovely options. Would be amazing to make a wedding album, too, don't you think? xo)

Beautiful book! My mom made me one from our wedding, my sister made one for our wedding dinner for guests to sign and they are so fun to look at! My sister also makes them every year recapping what her family did and she makes them for my parents. They are the greatest gifts!

What a lovely gift. And yes, his expression on his wedding day is hysterical. Weddings are crazy though, and there is so much going on, and so much excitement, it is all so wonderful, and overwhelmingly beautiful.

How beautiful! I am attending and photographing the wedding of two dear friends next weekend, and while I've looked at many "photo book" sites, this one is the most lovely I've seen! Thank you for sharing!

What a brilliant idea! Both my parents turn 60 in a couple of years (they were born 12 days a part) and their 30th wedding anniversary is in 2 years, so I could see doing a joint book of them together. Thanks for the idea!

Joanna, that's great! My mom's 60th birthdayis in two weeks,and I have already made a photo book on Shutterfly and planned to order it soon. I'm now seriously considering re-doing it with pinhole press because it's more modern (and less expensive!). Do you how long it took to ship after you submitted it? Thanks so much!

this is so beautiful joanna. i want to make one for my parents but it's hard to find old photos as my mom came from communist prague and had to leave all her belongings and pictures from her childhood behind

My dad has alzheimer's so a few years ago I made him a book like this of his life for christmas so he could maybe remember us a little longer. It's been 3 years and he looks at almost everyday. One time he told my brother that it was worth a million dollars. Sometimes the simplest gifts are the best ones. That one looks absolutely gorgeous.

What a beautiful idea, so much depth and soul to it.. You always make the best presents! And for those thinking of Mother's day gifts.. come see our Etsy shop for some ideas http://www.etsy.com/people/PetitCoeurDesigns

this is JUST what i need! for my paternal grandmother's 80th, my mom and i made a book for her by hand. it was beautiful but it cost soooo much money and it took several weeks of constant work. my maternal grandmother's 80th is this december- and i think we will have to try this! it's gorgeous!p.s. i love the schoolboy photos- too cute!

My mother is turning 50 soon and I'm stressing about what to get her. Something like this could actually be nice! Do you have any other ideas what I could give her? You find always such inspirational things :)

Awesome idea !! Hubby is turning 40 this year and that would be a brilliant present for him (he would LOVE it)... Did you have to scan/upload all the photos ? I'm secretly hoping I could just send all my pics over and they would do it for me (and then send them back with the book)(so lazy, I know :) xx

esthere and marie, i did scan old photos, and i used some photos that were already digital. then it was really easy to make the book after that. scanning isn't too tough -- you can actually take photos to photo stores and they'll do it for you and give you a disk, if you want! xo

What a special gift for your dad's 60th! So polished yet very personal. I've been delaying putting together my wedding album for several months, and this is a great option to consider. Thanks for sharing!

It is a wonderful gift, Jo. I was very moved, not only by all the effort you made, but also by the feelings brought forward by so many of the photos, especially those images I had not seen before. It was wonderful to be so transported. Quite a labor of love; thank you so much.Me xx

So glad your father fell right into loving this gift... who wouldn't?! It's one of the most treasured treats to let someone know how much they are loved. I made one for my own father for his 70th recently and, although I couldn't be with the gang when he opened it, my siblings shared how he just quietly and slowly moved through each page, taking it all in. How beautiful that you were able to experience this right along with him. It looks wonderful.

The book is beautiful, the photos are wonderful (your Mom and Dad look so young and happy on their wedding day-made me think of my wedding day at about that age!) and the thought you put into it is priceless.

My husband surprised me at Christmas by making me one called "ONE" that documents the first year of our daughter's life. I've written her a letter every month and he included those at the top of each months' photos. It's the best present I've ever received.

I love the book!! I am definitely want to make a couple of books. I want one for both of children's first year and one for my grandparents. I think this is so wonderful. Thanks so very much for sharing!

you have definitely turned me on to pinhole press! thank you :) since your initial post about it - i have designed and received two panorama books (my favorite), one for my elopment :X and one for my actual wedding half a year later :) i plan on making more of vacations, etc. they are so easy to make and the quality is awesome. i also had a technical issue with one of the books and they are sending me a newly printed one, no questions asked :) wonderful company!

This is so great. The cover photo is to die for! I always wonder, what do you get the dad who has everything? I started making photobooks for my dad a couple years ago; before that we gave him everything from photo calendars to coasters with our pictures on them as gifts! It never gets old, pictures never fail.

so funny, in the moment i'm collecting photos from my father because in may is his 50s birthday and i want to make him, as you did, a photobook. so good inspiration- just photos and no kitschy stuff around (as little stickers or horrible tipograph. ... my englisch is really bad, sorry). love your blog!

I love this book! I sent my Dad this link for some ideas for my Mom's 60th this year. He responded immediately to tell me that he and my Mom used to hang out with your parents in Chavenay in the early 80's! It's funny to place Joanna and Lucy from some of my childhood pictures, after having read your blog for so long :)

I was thinking the same thing. But also since I won't be on his birthday, they live overseas I want to ask my mom to bring it to his birthday and family member can write personal messages inside for him.

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